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SPA SESSIONS
what’s hot in the world of spa and wellness
SPA REVIEW: AQUA DAY SPA
Part of the prestigious Starwood Spa Collection, Aqua Day Spa (tel +84 (0)8 827-2828, www.sheraton.com/saigon) is a city spa that delivers on all counts.
This impressive retreat is tucked away by the pool of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, Ho Chi Minh. As you step into the spa, you’re greeted by the scent of blended aromatherapy oils and soft , lilting music as the busy city streets fade away.
The decor is understated and tasteful with tiny elements of Vietnam here and there. Treatments include Thai massage, reflexology and a special package for anyone trying to beat jet lag.
For a unique treat, try the Oriental Zen (US$40 for 50 minutes). This blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and shiatsu massage is great for those who prefer a lighter, stress-relieving massage (and who loath the more intense reflexology and deep tissue techniques). Therapists are intuitive to your needs and faultlessly professional.
WHAT IS… CHI NEI TSANG?
This traditional Chinese treatment is a stomach massage meant to detoxify the internal organs by releasing physical and emotional blockages within. Intended to improve the energy flow throughout the body, it is also said to clear the negative effects of stress and poor diet. Try chi nei tsang for yourself at Chiang Mai’s Tao Garden Wellness Garden Retreat (tel +66 (0)53 495596-9, www.universal-tao.com).
STRETCH OUT
Yoga doesn’t mean curling yourself into a pretzel. Some of the simplest stretches are the most effective. Siem Reap-based instructor Ana Maria Magalhaes recommends the downward dog position (above) for jet-setters. This posture, or asana, stretches and strengthens your whole body and releases any tension to help you beat travel fatigue and back pain. “Keep hands and feet parallel with your shoulders and hips, and press down onto the back of your heels,” explains Ana Maria. “Spread your fingers and bring your chin to your chest, looking in at your navel. Take long and balanced breaths throughout.” Hold for five to ten breaths.
NEW AND NOTED
Well-loved Koh Samui spa Tamarind Springs (205/3 Th ong Takian, tel +66 (0)77 424221, www.tamarindsprings.com) reopened recently aft er six weeks of renovation. Known for its spa “journeys” and herbal steam room carved inside a boulder, the hilltop retreat has taken its classic formula one step further.
“We’ve created a more intense landscape of rocks, forest pools and a new steam cave as well as private couples sala, or open-air pavilions,” says director Shelley Poplak. Look out for the Double Trouble honeymoon sala that overlooks the forest and a private pool.
In Bangkok, the ground-breaking TRIA Integrative Wellness (998 Rimkhlonsamsen Road, tel +66 (0)2 660-2600, www.triaintegrativewellness.com) adopts a holistic approach to health with preventative therapies that span several disciplines.
A one-stop shop for healing, TRIA offers mainstream and alternative methods such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda (an Indian system), naturopathy and homeopathy, alongside consultations by medical doctors and counsellors.
There’s also pilates, yoga, personal training, hydrotherapy pools and even a spa cafe. Treatments range from 45 minutes to one week and are customised per individual.
HEAVEN SCENT
Ever been asked to select the oil for your massage? Here’s a list of some common aromatherapy oils and their benefits to help you make the right choice:
Bergamot: Uplifting, confidence-building. Best avoided on sunburnt or sensitive skin.
Eucalyptus: Purifying. Known for its healing properties, this is oft en used in salves and ointments.
Lemongrass: Cleansing. Good for acne or pimply skin.
Patchouli: Intense and sensual. Th is is the aphrodisiac of essential oils.
Peppermint: Cooling and invigorating.
Ylang-Ylang: Euphoric. Th is floral-scented oil is perfect for oily skin and is said to help insomnia.
GET HOT
Hot, spicy and delicious oft en pertain to Thai food. But in the Grande Spa at Bangkok’s Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit (250 Sukhumvit Road, www.sheratongrandesukhumvit.com), these three words sum up the scrumptious experience of the Herbal Grande Pound Treatment. For 95 minutes, the therapist applies a unique poultice of steamed tamarind and lemongrass (above) going from gentle kneading motions to a swift staccato pounding. The treatment continues with a full body aromatherapy massage using lemongrass oil. Lemongrass is not only an aromatic and flavourful ingredient for Thai cooking, it also soothes frayed nerves.
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